Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Hematology & Oncology for December 2017. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Atopic Dermatitis Associated With Higher Risk of Skin Cancer
THURSDAY, Dec. 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with an increased risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), according to a study published online Dec. 15 in the International Journal of Dermatology.
Tips Offered for Patient-Provider Opioid Tapering Talks
THURSDAY, Dec. 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Helping patients understand individualized reasons for opioid tapering and encouraging them to provide input into the process are key for patient-provider communications, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of Pain.
Variation Seen in Hospice Use for Malignant Glioma
THURSDAY, Dec. 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — There are noticeable differences in hospice utilization among patients with malignant glioma (MG), with older age, female sex, and urban residence predicting longer length of stay, according to a study published recently in Neuro-Oncology.
Out-of-Pocket Costs Correlate With Receipt of Cancer Care
THURSDAY, Dec. 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Across cancers, higher out-of-pocket (OOP) costs are associated with higher rates of oral prescription abandonment and delayed initiation, according to a study published online Dec. 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Three-Quarters Receiving ‘End of Life Option Act’ Drugs Take Them
THURSDAY, Dec. 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — About three-quarters of patients in California who receive End of Life Option Act (EOLOA) drugs ingest them and die, according to a research letter published online Dec. 26 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Pneumatic Compression Promising for Lymphedema
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — One treatment session with advanced pneumatic compression is associated with reduced cancer-related head and neck lymphedema, according to a study published online Nov. 13 in Head & Neck.
Reducing Tx May Harm Safety in Early HPV+ Oropharyngeal Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)+ stage I or II oropharyngeal cancer, deintensification of treatment from chemoradiotherapy to one modality may compromise safety, according to a study published online Dec. 15 in Cancer.
Rituximab Effective for Lupus-Associated Cytopenia
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Rituximab treatment seems effective for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-associated immune cytopenias, with an overall initial response rate of 86 percent, according to a study published online Dec. 16 in the American Journal of Hematology.
Preoperative G-Tube Placement Associated With Cost Savings
TUESDAY, Dec. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Preoperative placement of gastrostomy tubes (G-tubes) in patients with head and neck cancer yields cost savings, according to a study published online Nov. 13 in Head & Neck.
Exercise Reduces Sleep Problems in Breast Cancer Survivors
TUESDAY, Dec. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A physical activity intervention reduces perceived sleep dysfunction at three and six months for post-primary treatment breast cancer survivors, according to a study published recently in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
GERD Linked to Upper Aerodigestive Tract Cancers
TUESDAY, Dec. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is associated with a higher risk of cancer in the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) among the elderly population in the United States, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Normalized Post-Op CEA May Help Predict Colon Cancer Prognosis
TUESDAY, Dec. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Colon cancer patients with elevated preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels that normalize after resection are not at increased risk for poor prognosis, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in JAMA Oncology.
Early-Stage Cancer Diagnoses Up With ACA’s Medicaid Expansions
THURSDAY, Dec. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — In their first year, the 2014 Medicaid expansions, facilitated by the Affordable Care Act, were associated with an increase in cancer diagnoses, particularly at the early stage, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in the American Journal of Public Health.
Cancer Probability Documentation Lacking for Some at High Risk
THURSDAY, Dec. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with high-risk indeterminate pulmonary nodes (IPNs), physicians rarely provide quantitative documentation of cancer probability, according to a study published online Dec. 20 in JAMA Surgery.
CDC: 2015 to 2016 Saw Drop in Life Expectancy in United States
THURSDAY, Dec. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — From 2015 to 2016, life expectancy decreased by one-tenth of a year, and there was an increase in the rate of age-adjusted drug overdose deaths, according to two December data briefs published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
Abstract/Full Text – Kochanek
Abstract/Full Text – Hedegaard
Findings Support Comprehensive Approach for Seniors With Cancer
THURSDAY, Dec. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Addressing persistent symptoms, managing comorbidities, promoting leisure-time physical activity, and addressing financial challenges are key in optimizing health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older adults with cancer, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in Cancer.
Financial Strain, Stress High Among Colorectal CA Survivors
THURSDAY, Dec. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Four in 10 colorectal cancer survivors report cancer-related financial stress or strain, which is significantly associated with low health-related quality of life, according to a study published in the January issue of Diseases of the Colon & Rectum.
Levonorgestrel IUD Feasible for Low-Risk, Early Uterine Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) is effective in the majority of patients undergoing conservative treatment for low-risk endometrial cancer and complex atypical hyperplasia, according to a case-series study published online Dec. 4 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Tumor-Treating Fields Aid Survival With Glioblastoma
TUESDAY, Dec. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The use of the tumor-treating fields (TTFields) treatment modality, in addition to maintenance chemotherapy, significantly improves survival in patients with glioblastoma, according to a study published in the Dec. 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Cancer Therapies May Trigger Aging Phenotypes in Survivors
TUESDAY, Dec. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Cancer therapies have direct effects on telomere length, epigenetic modifications, and microRNA, which can mimic phenotypes of aging, according to a review published online Dec. 18 in ESMO Open.
Male U.S. Doctors Receive Higher Values of Industry Payments
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Male physicians in the United States received higher values of general payments from industry than females in 2015, according to a research letter published online Dec. 18 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Year One Results Out for Value-Based Payment Modifier Program
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Almost 30 percent of eligible practices failed to register and report data in the first year of the Physician Value-Based Payment Modifier program, according to a report published in the December issue of Health Affairs.
High Fatty Liver Index Tied to Colorectal Adenomas
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The fatty liver index may be an accurate predictor of colorectal adenomas among an average-risk population, according to a study published in the January issue of Diseases of the Colon & Rectum.
Lab + Companion Tests Perform Similarly for Oncology Analytes
FRIDAY, Dec. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved companion diagnostics (FDA-CDs) have similar, excellent accuracy for diagnosing variants in three oncology-related genes, according to a brief report published online Dec. 14 in JAMA Oncology.
Doctors Must Report on at Least 1 Patient, 1 Measure for MACRA
FRIDAY, Dec. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — In order to meet the 2017 Medicare and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) participation reporting deadline and avoid a Medicare payment penalty in 2019, physicians must report on at least one patient and one measure by Dec. 31, and submit to Medicare no later than Feb. 28, 2018, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).
Ulixertinib Is Active in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors
FRIDAY, Dec. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The ERK1/2 kinase inhibitor ulixertinib is active and safe for patients with advanced solid tumors, according to a study published online Dec. 15 in Cancer Discovery.
Multiple Myeloma Survival Down With High ADAR1 RNA Expression
FRIDAY, Dec. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Amplification of the inflammation-responsive RNA editase adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR)1 gene is associated with reduced survival in multiple myeloma (MM), according to a study published online Dec. 4 in Nature Communications.
Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound No Aid for Metastasis Detection
FRIDAY, Dec. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Contrast-enhanced laparoscopic ultrasonography (CE-LUS) does not appear to increase the detection rate of liver metastasis during robotic-assisted surgery for primary colorectal cancer (CRC), according to a study published online Nov. 13 in the Journal of Clinical Ultrasound.
Vermilionectomy Has Good Long-Term Outcome for Lip Lesions
THURSDAY, Dec. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Vermilionectomy is effective for treatment of actinic cheilitis (AC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lower lip, according to a research letter published online Dec. 14 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
Making Insurers Participate in Marketplace Could Cut Volatility
THURSDAY, Dec. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Requiring insurers that participate in Medicare or Medicaid to also participate in Marketplaces in the same geographic area could improve access to insurance, according to a study published in the December issue of Health Affairs.
Artificial Intelligence Promising for CA, Retinopathy Diagnoses
TUESDAY, Dec. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A deep learning algorithm can detect metastases in sections of lymph nodes from women with breast cancer; and a deep learning system (DLS) has high sensitivity and specificity for identifying diabetic retinopathy, according to two studies published online Dec. 12 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Pediatric Oncologists Willing to Consider Medical Marijuana
TUESDAY, Dec. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The absence of standards is an important barrier to pediatric oncologists recommending medical marijuana (MM), despite their willingness to do so, according to a study published online Dec. 12 in Pediatrics.
Deceleration in Health Care Spending Growth in 2016
MONDAY, Dec. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Health care spending growth slowed in 2016 following faster growth in 2014 and 2015, according to research published online Dec. 6 in Health Affairs.
Telomere Fusions Predict Dysplasia, Invasive Pancreatic CA
FRIDAY, Dec. 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Telomere fusions predict the presence of high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and/or invasive pancreatic cancer, according to a study published online Dec. 8 in the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics.
No Increase in Seizure Incidence With Enzalutamide in mCRPC
FRIDAY, Dec. 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) with at least one risk factor for seizure at baseline, treatment with enzalutamide is not associated with increased incidence of seizure, according to research published online Dec. 7 in JAMA Oncology.
Ovarian CA Screening Potentially Cost-Effective in the U.S.
FRIDAY, Dec. 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Multimodal screening (MMS) for ovarian cancer is potentially cost-effective in the United States, according to a study published online Dec. 7 in JAMA Oncology.
ORBIT Bleeding Risk Score Performs Best in A-Fib
FRIDAY, Dec. 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Four contemporary clinical bleeding risk scores are able to identify atrial fibrillation (AF) patients at risk for major bleeding and life-threatening bleeding, according to a study published online Nov. 7 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
Letermovir Prophylaxis Cuts Risk of CMV Infection
THURSDAY, Dec. 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seronegative patients undergoing hematopoietic-cell transplantation, letermovir prophylaxis is associated with a lower risk of CMV infection than placebo, according to a study published online Dec. 6 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Breast CA Risk Up With Recent Hormonal Contraceptive Use
THURSDAY, Dec. 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Women who currently use or who have recently used contemporary hormonal contraceptives may have an increased risk of breast cancer, although the absolute increase is small, according to a study published in the Dec. 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Pharmacomechanical Thrombolysis No Benefit in DVT
THURSDAY, Dec. 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The addition of pharmacomechanical thrombolysis does not reduce the risk of post-thrombotic syndrome among patients with acute proximal deep vein thrombosis, according to a study published in the Dec. 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Gene Therapy Shows Beneficial Effect in Men With Hemophilia B
THURSDAY, Dec. 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For men with hemophilia B who have factor IX coagulant activity of 2 percent or less of normal value, infusion of a single-stranded adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector with factor IX Padua transgene is associated with a reduction in annualized bleeding rate, and in factor use, according to a study published in the Dec. 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
VDT PACE Effective in Relapsed, Refractory Multiple Myeloma
THURSDAY, Dec. 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For heavily pre-treated patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), bortezomib, dexamethasone, thalidomide, cisplatin, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide and etoposide (VDT PACE) regimen and its modifications (VDT PACE-like regimens [VPLRs]) are effective, according to a study published online Oct. 25 in the American Journal of Hematology.
Educational Video Helps Hairdressers Better ID Melanoma
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A brief educational video could be beneficial for increasing hairdresser knowledge of melanoma and self-confidence in skin lesion detection, according to a research letter published online Dec. 6 in JAMA Dermatology.
Doctors’ Personal Experience of Breast Cancer May Impact Care
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Physicians who report a social network member with a poor breast cancer prognosis are more likely to recommend routine breast cancer screening for younger and older age groups, according to a research letter published online Dec. 4 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
CVS-Aetna Merger Has Implications for Doctors’ Offices
TUESDAY, Dec. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — CVS Health’s planned purchase of insurance giant Aetna, a $69 billion deal, was announced Sunday.
More Information – NYT
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Lymph Node Density Predicts Thyroid Cancer Outcomes
TUESDAY, Dec. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Lymph node density (LND) can help predict outcomes in patients with papillary thyroid cancer, according to a study published online Nov. 30 in JAMA Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery .
Ceruloplasmin ID’d As Marker of Kidney Disease in Sickle Cell
MONDAY, Dec. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — In patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA), urinary ceruloplasmin (CP) may complement urinary free hemoglobin as a noninvasive biomarker for chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to research published online Nov. 27 in the American Journal of Hematology.
Nivolumab May Induce Successful Depletion of HIV Reservoir
MONDAY, Dec. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Nivolumab treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer may induce successful depletion of HIV reservoir, according to a letter to the editor published online Dec. 1 in the Annals of Oncology.
Oral Microbiome Composition Linked to Esophageal Cancer Risk
MONDAY, Dec. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Oral microbiome composition is associated with the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), according to a study published online Dec. 1 in Cancer Research.
FDA Approves Biosimilar Ogivri for Breast, Stomach Cancers
FRIDAY, Dec. 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Ogivri (trastuzumab-dkst) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as the nation’s first biosimilar drug to treat certain breast and stomach cancers, the agency said Friday in a news release.
Study IDs Clinical Factors Tied to Free Tissue Transfer Reoperation
FRIDAY, Dec. 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Certain clinical factors, including wound complications, are associated with reoperation and prolonged hospitalization in patients undergoing free tissue transfer (FTT) for reconstruction related to head and neck cancer, according to a study published online Nov. 30 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
ACC Guides Treatment of Bleeding With Oral Anticoagulation
FRIDAY, Dec. 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A decision pathway has been developed to guide management of acute bleeding in patients treated with oral anticoagulants (OACs); the decision pathway was published online Dec. 1 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Differences in Cancer Survival by Type of Insurance
FRIDAY, Dec. 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — From 1997 to 2014, improvements in cancer survival were mainly limited to patients with private or Medicare insurance, according to a study published online Nov. 30 in JAMA Oncology.
Lobectomy Beats SBRT Survival in Early-Stage NSCLC
FRIDAY, Dec. 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For stage I non-small-cell lung cancer, survival is better with lobectomy than stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), although there is no difference for sublobar resection and SBRT, according to a study published online Nov. 29 in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
>40% of Cancers, Cancer Deaths Due to Modifiable Risk Factors
FRIDAY, Dec. 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — An estimated 42.0 percent of all incident cancers and 45.1 percent of cancer deaths in the United States are attributed to potentially modifiable risk factors, according to a study published online Nov. 21 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
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